Adjustable die for forming curved bricks



April ll, 1944. E A RENDER 2,346,393

ADJUSTABLE DIE FOR FORMING CURVED BRICKS 4 Filed Deo. 6, 1941 Patented Apr. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES I PATENT oFFlcE ADJUSTABLE DIE FOR BRI The' invention relates generally to forming bricks by auger machines in which a column of clay is forced through a rectangular die, and the. column is then cut into individual bricks. More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustable die for attachmentto an auger machine to form curved bricks having a variety of shapes.A

In making curved or arcuate bricks, it is usual practice to attach a die plate having the desired curvature to the exit end of the auger machine. However, starter or end bricks which have the* same curvature on one end and the other end straight are also required, andthese necessitate a separatedie plate. Moreover, curved bricks are required with varying degrees of curvature, and each particular size brick and each particular degree of curvature requires a separate die plate. V

The use of an individual die plate for each size and each differently curved brick involves much delay in having die plates made to suit special requirements, and also involves excessive expense. V

Accordingly, it is an object of the present inj vention to provide `a novel and improved die for forming curved bricks, which die is adjustable for a variety of degrees of curvature.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved die for forming curved bricks of different sizes.

` A further object is to provide a novel and Aimproved .die for forming curved bricks, which die is easily attached to the exit end of the conventional auger machine. I

Another object is'to provide a novel and improved die which can be'adjusted to form arcu- FORMING CURVED cKs Emmett A. Render. New Philadelphia, ohio Application December 6,1941, Serial No. 421,946 2 claims. (o1. 25-112) ate. bricks and. starter bricks having the same I curvature at one end only.

A further object is to provide a novel and im` proved die for forming curved bricks and having adjustable means for forming the ends -of the bricks flat substantiallyon lthe planes of radii of the curved sides thereof.

A still further object is to provide a simple and inexpensive die for forming curved bricks, which can be quickly adjusted with ordinary tools.

These and` other objects are accomplished by the improvements comprising the present invention which may be stated in general Vterms asincluding a rectangular frame adapted vfor at;- tachment to the exit end of the auger machine, vertically spaced curved knives adjustably mounted in the frame for forming curved concentric upper and lower surfaces of varying dey grees of curvature on the clay column issuing from the auger machine, and laterally spaced cutting wires adjustably mounted in said frame for forming flat side surfaces on the clay column.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view as cnk line 6 6, Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

The improved die includes a frame indicated generally at 4 having side members 5 and top and bottom cross members 6 and 'I respectively. The four corners of the frame are provided with bolt holes 8 for receiving suitable bolts to attach the die to the exit end of a conventional auger machine, so that the clay column issuing from the auger machine passes through the rectangular opening formed by the frame 4.

At each side of the frame, a Ushaped supporting bar 9 is provided and the bars 9 have in wardly extending legs I Il and II which are attached at their ends to thecross members 6 .and

'I of the frame as by welding. The supporting bars 9 are provided with vertically extending slots I2, and vertically spaced bolts I3 and I4 extend through `the slots and are vertically adjustably secured to the bars 9 by means of lock nuts I5 and washers IB. The inner ends of the bolts I3 and I4 are longitudinally slotted at |311 and [4a respectively, for receiving the endsof concentrically curved knife blades I1 and I8 respectively, extending laterally across the frame, the upper knife blade II having its ends extending `through the slots I3a, and the lower knife blade I8 having its ends extending through the slots I 4a.

`In order to clamp the ends of the knife blades inthe slots I3a and I4a of the bolts I3 and I4, the rearvedges of the knife blades `are abutted by washers I9 backed up by lock nuts 20 screwed on the `bolts I3 and I4 respectively. The means for adjusting the curvature of the upper knife blade I'I and for maintaining the knife blade in a desired curve to yform a convex upper surface on the clay column, preferably includes a series i of laterally spacedblades ,I'I having their lower ends abutting the upper convex surface of the knife blade I1 and secured at their upper portions 4by means of bolts 2l whichk are `screwed into the upper cross member 6 of the frame.`

The blades I'I pass through slots 2Ia in the bolts 2| and are rigidly held therein by means of washers 22 abutting the rear edges of the simuany, the lower knife made' la is adjusted to different degrees of curvature and maintained in a desired curve to form a concave lower sur? face on the clay column, by ,means of 'laterally' spaced blades 24 having their upper ends abut'- ting the lower concave surface of the knife blade I8. The blades 24 pass through 'slots' 25a in bolts 25 which are screwed into the lower cross member 1, and are held in adjusted position by means of washers 26 backed up by lock nuts 21 on the bolts I4. l

The bolts I3 and I4 vcan be adjusted vertically up or down in the slots I2 by manipulating the lock nuts I5, soas to accommodate a rangel of -sizes of circular bricksgand the blades I1' and 24 can be adjusted up or down to vary the degree of curvature of the knife blades I1 and I8 for the several sizes of bricks.

Preferably the bars 9 have bales 28 and 28 arranged along their inner sides to preventthe clay passing through the improved die from moving laterally outward and clogging laround the bolts I3 and I4. The upper ballles- 28 arelocated above the knife blade I1 and are preferably bent around and secured to the tops of bars 9 by screws 29, and the bailles 28 are located between the=knife blades I1 and I8 and are secured toA the inside edges of the bars 9 by screws 33.

For forming flat sides on the clay column as it passesbetween the curved knives I1 and I8, laterally spaced cutting wires 3Il and 32 are provided. These wires extend downwardly across the rear edges of the ,curved knives I1 and I3 along lines substantially coinciding with the radii of curvature of the curved knives I1 and I8. The upper ends of the wires are secured in holes 33 inthe inner ends of bolts 34 which are screwed' in the upper corners of the frame 4, andthe lower ends of the wires are secured in notches 35 formed between inturned teeth 33 provided on the lower edge of the bottom cross member 1 of the frame. Y

vBetween the bolts 34 and the'upper curved knife I1, the wires 3| and 32 pass between outturned teeth 31 provided on laterally slidable adjusting bars 38 which are adjustably secured to the side bars 5 of the frame byrmeans of bolts 39 passing through slots 40 in the bars 38.V The outer ends of the bars 38 are providedv with` curved finger gripr portions 4I, andthe out-` turned teeth 31 project into laterally extending slo't's 42 in the upper cross bar 6 of the frame.

Similarly, the portions of the wires 3I and 32 extending between the teeth 3 5 on the lower edge of the frame and the lowercurved knife I8 pass between-outturned teeth3'l on `the inner ends of laterallyadjusta-ble bars38' which are ad-4 justably secured to -theside framev members 5 byvbolts 39 passing through-slots 48 in the bars 38. The outer ends of the bars 38"are provided withf curved finger grip portions 4I and the teeth 31 provided at their inner ends project into'laterally extending slots I42 in the bottom cross member 1 of the frame. f

Thus the angularity of the wires 3l and 32 can :be -changed by changing the lower ends of the wires from one lto another of the notches 35, and a fine adjustment of the angularity of the wires can be made by loosening the bolts 39 and 39 and laterally shifting the adjusting bar s and 38'..

In the L,operation of the improved die, a pattern of the cross sectional shape of curved brick desired is lrst made, and the knives I1 and I8 and Wires 3l and 32 adjusted to accurately t the p attern. Thenfwith the die secured to the lex'it end of an auger machine by bolts extending through the holes 8 in the frame 4, the clay column issuing from the auger machine will pass L through the 'die and be formed into the arcuate or curved column defined by the upper and lower curved knives I1 and I8 and the side cutting wires 3l and 32, after which the column is'severed into bricks in ausual manner.- l o Itis obvious that by adjusting' the bolts-:I3 and I4 up and down in the slots I2, a considerablerange of sizes of curved bricks vcan be ac commodated, and byadjusting the individualblades I1 and y24, the curvature of the knives can be adjusted to produce a great number of variations of curved brick.

and one-half curved-can be formed, by adjust-1j in-g the bolts I3 and I4 at one side of the die maintaining the other half portion on a desired curve.

'I'he novel and improved die provides rrleansj easily attached to an auger machine for forming Y. a variety of sizes and .degrees of curvatureof curved bricks, without'necessitating a separate die plate for each size and curve, and accordingly greatly reduces the time and expense required in producing curved bricks.

I claim:

` vertically spaced curved knives extending later' ally across the .frame for forming curved upper. and lower surfaces on the clay column issuingV from the auger machine, means on theframe ,v for adjusting the degrees of curvature of said knives, means securing the 'ends of, said knives tothe sides of the frame for lengthwise adjustment of the knives, and said securing means being M knives can be adjusted toward and awayfrom each other and the de knife is independently adjustable.

2. Die construction forforming curved bricks" including a rectangular frame adapted for attachment to the discharge'end of an auger machine; vertically spaced curved knives extending laterally across the frame for forming conce'n trically curved surfaces onl opposite sides of-tlie clay column being discharged, adjustable means ably securing the ends of said knives for lengthwise.` adjustment therein, and means adjustably securing said bolts .to the frame for vertical'adf 10.just ment thereon.

Also, .a starter brick having one-half straighty Moreover, -theim'' A proved` die is easily adjusted for various sizes andY shapes of curved bricks by using ordinary tools'l,

vertically adjustable on said frame, whereby the ree ofv curvature of' each;-

on'theV frame forabutting the curved fknives at intervals intermediate theirends, b'olts adjust EMMETT A. RENDE.. 

